The Potomac Service Center processes assigned USCIS cases; it is not a place to choose for faster service or visit for an interview. File a new application using the current instructions for that form, rather than sending it to Potomac because a similar case was processed there.
Responding to an evidence request
USCIS announced that Potomac stopped accepting mailed correspondence in November 2023. Its published guidance directs eligible online responses to the USCIS account and paper correspondence to the designated Texas Service Center address, unless otherwise instructed. Confirm the current response instructions before shipping; an old address on a saved checklist can cause trouble. [2]
An RFE is a request to resolve missing or insufficient evidence, not an approval or an automatic denial. Identify each requested item, include the notice or identifying information required, and deliver one organized response by the specified deadline. The governing regulation generally does not permit extending an RFE response period. A partial response can be treated as a request for a decision on the existing record. [1]
What to keep and check
Save the complete response, upload confirmation or delivery tracking, and the receipt notice. Check the online case status using the receipt number. A transfer notice changes the processing location, not the underlying eligibility rules. Do not submit a duplicate application merely because the case moved.
If a deadline is near and the notice conflicts with newer routing guidance, seek USCIS clarification promptly and keep a record of the inquiry. Technical difficulty with an account does not itself suspend the deadline. A qualified immigration representative can help distinguish evidence problems from address or account problems.
Example: answering the right request
Suppose you receive an RFE for a missing employment record and your case status later says it was transferred. The transfer does not answer the RFE. Compare the notice’s response instructions with the official routing update, identify the requested dates, and provide evidence addressing those dates. A status screenshot showing “case transferred” is not a substitute for the missing employment evidence.
Use a cover sheet that lists the receipt number, form, notice date, and enclosed items. Put documents in the order requested and explain any unavailable record with available alternatives and a factual account of efforts to obtain it. Avoid replacing a requested document with a large collection of unrelated material. Before submission, verify that each page is legible and that the response identifies the correct applicant. Keep the submission evidence until the case is resolved. [1]
If an online update is unclear, review USCIS case-status and inquiry options. A separate guide explains a canceled evidence-request notice.
Primary sources
- eCFR :: 8 CFR 103.2 — Submission and adjudication of benefit requests.
- USCIS: NAFSA Annual Conference 2024 Questions and Answers
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.